Foreign journalists to be censored by Azerbaijan during European Games

Journalists visiting Baku for the inaugural European Games in June face being either barred or kicked out if they write anything critical about Azerbaijan, writes British sport expert Keir Radnedge on his site Keir Radnedge World Sport Service.

Citing a report published by the Azerbaijani outlet AzerNews about the immigration department of the country setting out terms under which journalists will be restricted by visa service demands, Radnedge writes that Azerbaijan is among the nations seeking a shortcut to international visibility and status through sport. Still, this opens up a state to critical focus by foreign media, politicians and human rights organizations. The visa administration system will be eased for Games visitors who are in possession of valid accreditation or spectating tickets.

“However, journalists should be warned that this does not offer them carte blanche to indulge in what they perceive to be the right to freedom of expression,” the author writes.

According to the specific rules of accreditation of representatives of foreign media from the Foreign Ministry, the journalists granted a visa will have the right to engage in journalistic activities. But the accreditation will be cancelled should the representative violate these rules. Any media person found “spreading distorted information on Azerbaijan, thus unfairly representing the country’s interests will face the full force of the law,” Radnedge details.

“By even laying down such restrictions, the Azeris will be considered in some media quarters as admitting there are issues it wishes kept secret — as well as throwing down a challenge,” the article reads.

Meanwhile, international human rights organizations are preparing a press briefing: Give human rights a sporting chance in Azerbaijan.

“In June 2015, Azerbaijan’s capital Baku will host the first European Games under the umbrella of the European Olympic Committees. Controversy already surrounds this new sporting venture, following reports earlier this year that Azerbaijan will foot the bill for all 50 national Olympic teams to attend. The country’s internal political situation gives further cause for concern. Over the last twelve months, a wave of arrests of key critics — including human rights activists, election monitors, lawyers and investigative journalists — has almost entirely silenced Azerbaijani civil society, leaving activists and journalists in exile to highlight the regime’s on-going attacks on freedom of expression,” reads the statement published on the website of the international human rights organisation Index on Censorship.

Several large NGOs have been closed and legislative amendments make it almost impossible for critical groups to get foreign funding. The government controls all broadcast media, and in December, it forcefully closed the Baku branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a US-funded media organisation, as the article has it.

“Meanwhile, Azerbaijan continues an expensive PR campaign to promote its image abroad – with considerable success. International criticism has been largely muted; with the EU and the US looking at ways to foster closer and strategic ties with Azerbaijan,” the statement reads adding that the panellists will examine the argument that Azerbaijan is using such high profile events to whitewash its image amidst criticism from domestic human rights activists as well as international bodies regarding its human rights records.